DAILY NATION Wednesday March 19, 2014 health GIVING MONEY TO QUIT MIGHT BE CHEAPER THAN COMPLICATIONS TRIGGERE Trying to help a smoker quit? Bribe them Strollers, though convenient, can interfere with your child’s learning process BY JOAN THATIAH were given money, lottery tickets, and other monetary incentives, scientists have found that when trying to quit smoking, rewards do help. In the study, they found that those given I rewards were more than twice as likely to give up the unhealthy habit compared to those who were simply given advice. Financial penalties where people lost money also helped. The Newcastle University researchers also found that financial incentives also encouraged people to exercise more, lose weight, and go for health checkups. One of the researchers, Dr Jean Adams, observes that offering smokers small amounts of money to get them to quit might be cheaper in the long run than dealing with the health complications triggered by this habit. Spending more time in the dark will treat hearing loss Scientists have found a new non-invasive treatment for age-related hearing loss. In a study that involved mice, researchers from n an analysis of 16 projects where people Johns Hopkins University found enhanced auditory ability in the mice that were deprived of visual stimulation. They were also found to be better at detecting quieter noises. Explaining these findings, which have been published in the journal Neuron, Emily Petrus, the study author, observes that the human brain remains plastic even in old age, meaning that it can adapt to our experiences. In this case, the neurons re-organise and work at enhancing the hearing sense. No one would want to be kept in the dark or blindfolded for prolonged periods of time, but, the scientists note, even short spells of sensory deprivation will have the same desired effect. That stroller may harm your baby’s brain Strollers are invaluable to today’s mother, FINANCIAL INCENTIVES ALSO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EXERCISE MORE.” Study who would her baby ev search sugge in them for undermine b dination skil Researche Neuro Physi US have fo those that fa child spends ing with the pushed in were found t veloped spee searchers w effects can in a child’s sch formance persist in adul thood Neuro-psy chologist, Goddard Bly ommends th interaction a these physi pathways in the brain which are the foundation for problem solving later in life. How your personality affects your health DAILY NAT DAILY NAT DAILY NAT DAILY NAT DAILY NAT DAILY NAT DAILY NAT DAILY NAT DAILY NAT ILY NATION Wednesday March 19, 20 NATION Wednesday March 19, 2014 health GIVING MONEY TO QUIT MIGHT BE CHEAPER THAN COMPLICATIONS TRIGGERE Trying to help a smoker quit? Bribe them Strollers, though convenient, can interfere with your child’s learning process BY JOAN THATIAH were given money, lottery tickets, and other monetary incentives, scientists have found that when trying to quit smoking, rewards do help. In the study, they found that those given I rewards were more than twice as likely to give up the unhealthy habit compared to those who were simply given advice. Fi- nancial penalties where people lost money also helped. The Newcastle University researchers also found that financial incentives also encouraged people to exercise more, lose weight, and go for health checkups. One of the researchers, Dr Jean Adams, observes that offering smokers small amounts of money to get them to quit might be cheaper in the long run than deal- ing with the health complications triggered by this habit. Spending more time in the dark will treat hearing loss Scientists have found a new non-invasive treatment for age-related hearing loss. In a study that involved mice, researchers from n an analysis of 16 projects where people Johns Hopkins University found enhanced auditory ability in the mice that were de- prived of visual stimulation. They were also found to be better at detecting quieter noises. Explaining these findings, which have been published in the journal Neuron, Emily Petrus, the study author, observes that the human brain remains plastic even in old age, meaning that it can adapt to our experiences. In this case, the neurons re-organise and work at enhancing the hearing sense. No one would want to be kept in the dark or blindfolded for prolonged periods of time, but, the scientists note, even short spells of sensory deprivation will have the same desired effect. That stroller may harm your baby’s brain Strollers are invaluable to today’s mother, FINANCIAL INCENTIVES ALSO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EXERCISE MORE.” Study who would her baby ev search sugge in them for undermine b dination skil Researche Neuro Physi US have fo those that fa child spends ing with the pushed in were found t veloped spee searchers w effects can in a child’s sch formance persist in adul thood Neuro-psy chologist, Goddard Bly ommends th interaction a these physi pathways in the brain which are the founda- tion for problem solving later in life. How your personality affects your health Living Living 7 Most smokers find it difficult to stop the habit. PHOTO | AFP DAILY NAT DAILY NAT DAILY NAT DAILY NAT DAILY NAT DAILY NAT DAILY NAT